Refrigerating apparatus



Filed Aug. 2, .1926

gnvcnhw BLUF'ORD J L BROCKEII' Patented July 2, 1929.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BLUFOR D W. BROCKETT, F CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO EDMUND E.

ALLYNE, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

Application filed August 2, 1926. Serial No. 126,538.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus of the absorption type, such as is used for household or like purposes.

The object of the invention is to provide improved means for automatically controlling both the heating and the cooling of the boiler-generator and particularly such means employing but a single thermostat affected by the temperature of the cooling system for the boiler, all with a purpose of simpllfying the apparatus and decreasing the number of controls therefor.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

The single view in the drawings more or less diagrammatically represents one form of absorption type refrigerating apparatus embodying the invention.

For convenience, the drawings illustrate refrigerating apparatus of the sealed absorption type, in which the necessary elements of the apparatus are of closed form connected by conduits and arranged so that there is no possible escape to the outside atmosphere of refrigerant, such as by way of valves, stuffing boxes, or the like. The system includes a boiler-generator 1 of tank form from which a conduit 2 leads to the condensing coil 3 within a thermo-siphon tank 4, the refrigerant draining from the condenser by way of pipe 5 to the evaporator 6 including an upper storage tank 7 and a lower header 8 connected by pipes 9. The boiler-generator is provided with means enabling the refrigerant, such as ammonia, distilled from the absorbing agent, such as water, to readily leave the gas space in the boiler-generator and flow to the condenser coils, but compelling the refrigerant returning to the boiler to enter the same at a low level and bubble up through the absorbing agent to promote absorption.

The means provided for this purpose comprises a small sealed reservoir 10 into the bottom of which extends the upper end of a pipe 11 entering the boiler-generator and at a low level therein being provided with perforated branch pipes 12 from which the returning refrigerant enters the absorbing agent. A bent pipe 13 communicates at one end with the gas space in the boiler-generator and enters the reservoir 10 from above, its lower end being slightly lower than the upper end of conduit 11. Therefore, during the boiling period distilled refrigerant escapes from the boiler-generator through pipe 13, bubbles up through the absorbing agent, or refrigerant, or both, 14, in the reservoir 10 and passes off to the condenser. During the refrigerating period the returning refrigerant enters the reservoir through pipe 2 and flows to the boiler-generator through pipe 11 and perforated pipes 12, thus promoting absorption. This arrangement forms no part of the present invention.

For cooling the boiler, the drawings show a cooling system of the thermo-siphon type, including the relatively large tank 4 communicating at its bottom by way of a conduit 15 and valve 16, with the lower end of the cooling coil 17, which at its high end communicates with a high point in the tank 4 by way of conduit 18'. The boiler is heated by any suitable heater, such as the gas heater 19 controlled by valve 20 and pilot 21.

Both of the valves 16 and 20are connected for automatic control by the same thermostat, the arrangement shown including an expansible bellows 22 filled with eXpansible material and the chamber in which communicates by a pipe 23 with a sealed member 24 entering the tank 4: and subject to variations in temperature therein. The other end of the bellows is connected to or abuts one end of the stem 25 of gas valve 20, said stem being connected in any suitable manner, such as by the lever 26, with the stem of the water valve 16, so that the valves 20 and 16 are op- "erated simultaneously.

The operation is as follows: Let us assume that the first refrigerating .cycle is about to begin, valve 20 being therefore openso that the burner 19 is effective upon the boiler, while water valve 16 is closed. Refrigerant distilled from the boiler-generator flows to the condenser where it is liquefied and drains by gravity I to the evaporator 6. The closed valve 16 prevents circulation of the cooling liquid, sueh as water, in the cooling system, so that. the heat in the distilled refrigerant is communicated to the upper layers of Water in the thermosiphon tank 4:, the temperature of the water in the top of the tank rising. The effect is to create a zone of heated water in the upper portion of the tank, and this relatively hot zone grows downwardly, with a gradual rise in temperature downwardly through the tank. The effective portion of the thermo stat, such as member 24 of the bellows mechacooling water in the thermo-siphon system to begin circulating. The hot water in coil 17 promptly rises through conduit 18 and is replaced by a shot of the colder water in the lower portion of tank 4, thereby initiating and promoting continuance of absorption in the absorbing agent of the refrigerant now being distilled in evaporator 6. Of course, the

v circulating cooling water carries heat from the boiler-generator to the tank 4 until, in a short time, circulation of the cooling water has brought all of the water in the cooling system to approximatelythe same temperature, a temperature however higher than that of the surrounding air. The heat in the cooling system is of course expended gradually by radiation to the surrounding air and although the thermo-siphon circulation continues the temperature of the water falls gradually until finally it reaches approximately the temperature of the surrounding air. The bellows is formed, or is adjusted, so that when such temperature is reached,

' said bellows, by its contraction, permits the spring of the valve 20 to open such valve and close valve 16, thereby again initiating a heating effect at the boiler 1 and preventing circulation of the water in the thermo-siphon system, causing repetition of the same cycle before described.

With this arrangement the absorption refrigerating apparatus described operates entirely automatically, both the gas and the cooling Water being automatically controlled by the action of the thermostatically controlled device, such as the bellows mechanism.

boiling and evaporating periods as intended.

What I claim 1s:

1. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a still absorber, a condenser and evaporator connected in operative cycle, of heating means for the still, a cooling system therefor including a container having impounded cooling medium therein and a cooling unit in heat transfer relation with said still and said medium, and means sensitive to the temperature of the cooling system for regulating said heating means.

2. Refrigerating apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the cooling system includes a circulating cooling medium and a thermostat arranged at a pre-determined heat level in the cooling medium in said cooling system for regulating said heating means.

3. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a still absorber, a condenser and evaporator connected in operative cycle, of heating means for the still, a cooling system therefor including a container having impounded cooling medium therein and a cooling unit in heat transfer relationwith said still and said medium, and means sensitive to the temperature of said cooling system for regulating said cooling system.

4. In a refrigerating apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the heat regulating device also controls the heat transfer effect of the cooling system.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

BLUFORD W. BROCKETT. 

